Putin Proposes Gerhard Schröder as Ukraine Mediator, Berlin Calls It Bogus Offers

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder act as a mediator in Ukraine war peace talks, and German officials reacted cautiously by saying they had “taken note” of Putin’s comments but viewed them as part of “a series of bogus offers” from Russia.

“When artillery fails to win wars, the door to dialogue and diplomacy opens, but if protracted conflicts persist, mediation roles become unavoidable”

Al-Jazeera Net

In Berlin, a German official told Reuters that the proposal was not credible because Russia had not changed its conditions, and “A first test of credibility would be for Russia to extend the ceasefire.”

Al-Jazeera Net

Putin also said he thinks the Ukraine war is winding down and nominated Schröder as a potential key negotiator, while the Guardian reported that the US-mediated ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appeared under serious strain on its second day.

The Guardian added that three people were killed in Russian drone strikes on areas near the frontline, and that “more than 200 battlefield clashes had taken place since early Saturday,” according to Ukrainian officials.

In parallel, the Guardian reported that Russia’s defence ministry said it had downed 57 Ukrainian drones over the past day and “responded in kind” on the battlefield.

Michael Roth, a former lawmaker from Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) and chair of the foreign affairs committee, said a mediator “cannot be Putin’s buddy,” stressing that “any mediator must above all be accepted by Ukraine.”

In contrast, the SPD’s foreign affairs spokesperson in parliament, Adis Ahmetovic, told Der Spiegel that the proposal needs to be “carefully considered” with European partners.

ANSA

The Guardian also reported that the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow “soon enough” to continue talks with Russia, citing Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov via Interfax.

Meanwhile, the Guardian described how both sides accused the other of violating the US-mediated ceasefire through weekend attacks, with Ukrainian officials saying more than 200 battlefield clashes had taken place since early Saturday.

Latvia’s defence minister resigned on Sunday after the recent incursion of two Ukrainian drones into its territory, and the Guardian reported that Minister Adris Spruds’s decision followed a call for his resignation from Latvia’s prime minister, Evika Silina, who said he had “lost (her) trust and that of the public”.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said an encounter with Vladimir Putin would be possible only after an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine, and he said, “Non c'è ancora alcun segnale da Mosca che indichi una reale intenzione di avviare negoziati sostanziali e porre fine a questa guerra.”

“Have you ever heard this expression: the Schröderization of politics”

DW

Zelensky said “È necessaria una pressione. Sanzioni severe, dazi elevati,” and he added that Russia was “potenziando le sue forze sul fronte meridionale,” while also saying he had asked Donald Trump to convince Viktor Orban to stop blocking Ukraine’s EU accession.

On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov said providing security guarantees to Ukraine with an “intervento militare straniero” is “assolutamente inaccettabile,” and he argued that Western plans are linked to “un intervento militare straniero” in Ukrainian territory.

Lavrov also denounced a “complotto” by European countries to obstruct the peace process as outlined by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and he said he hoped “questa avventura fallisca.”

The Guardian reported that the US-mediated ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was under serious strain on its second day, with Russia’s defence ministry saying it had downed 57 Ukrainian drones and “responded in kind” on the battlefield.